Turkish Prime Minister

Turkey has been posing for many photos and taking plenty of selfies since last May, with the beginning of the Gezi demonstrations. Our selfies have showed us once again that each individual is important. So, respecting differences is a must for harmony in society.

In an effort to make himself the leader of the Islamic Middle Eastern world, Erdogan decimated that relationship which has cost Turkey in terms of shared intelligence about hostile neighbors including Iran.

I personally saw many covered women who first supported the Gezi protests, when they became an open target of angry and violent crowds just because they chose to wear pious clothes, felt a threat to their lifestyle and remained quiet, fearing they would lose their democratic right to wear what they want.

The protests that cannot be diminished by the words of the prime minister, the governor of Istanbul, or others, who simply called the protesters "terrorists." Nor can it be understood by simply comparing it to the Arab Spring.

If the chapulling movement protesters remain peaceful citizens uninvolved in party politics and continue to make their demands in a peaceful way, they can be effective in reshaping the fabric of society. That would mean a new era for Turkey.